Bad-check Charge Endangers Parole Of Ex-chief Deputy

SANFORD — Former Orange County chief deputy Leigh O. McEachern, paroled two years ago from prison, has been ordered to appear in court next week on a worthless- check charge.

He is scheduled to appear Monday in Seminole County Court.

Meanwhile, probation officials in Seminole County have recommended that the state parole board charge McEachern with violating his parole, which is scheduled to end Aug. 9.

If that happens, he could be ordered to complete his 10-year prison sentence, said Ed Bedell, a parole supervisor.

McEachern was convicted in 1980 of stealing as much as $200,000 from the Orange County Sheriff's Office investigative fund during the six years he served as chief deputy to Sheriff Mel Colman.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and served 33 months before he was released in August 1983.

McEachern has maintained that the money was stolen or misappropriated by investigators and other department officials.

McEachern, 48, of 1255 Snow Hill Road, Chuluota, pleaded not guilty in June to issuing a worthless check to a Casselberry bank in February, records show. The charge is a second-degree misdemeanor. The maximum penalty is 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The Seminole County state attorney's office charged McEachern after the Sun Bank in Casselberry reported Feb. 14 that he deposited a $5,000 check from a closed Orlando account, records show.

The bank put a hold on the check that was made payable to Aquarius Treatment Systems Inc., Investigator Kevin Crosier said. However, at noon on Feb. 20, a teller authorized McEachern's daughter, Renee, to receive five cashier's checks totaling $1,887.65 on the business account, Crosier said. At Renee's request, the bank made the checks payable to Southern Bell, Meat World, Piggly Wiggly and Family Hut, apparently to pay off several bills, he said.

Renee McEachern has not been charged.

About four hours later, Barnett Bank officials told Sun Bank that the Orlando account had been closed since August 1984.